“I Otto Know This!” Financial Literacy Program

A multi-level financial literacy program that provides you with money management skills that you can use while in school, and long after you graduate. If you want to learn these skills in person, online, or by participating in special events, “I Otto Know This!” has you covered. Explore and enjoy!

Money Awareness Program (M.A.P.)

M.A.P.’s goal is to enhance the SU experience by replacing loan debt with grant funding for eligible students who have borrowed federal and/or alternative student loans. There is no application as eligibility is determined by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship Programs. M.A.P. is a two-part program:

Replace student loans with grant

Require each participating student to complete a financial literacy session once a semester to assist the student in understanding credit and basic financial management skills.

Students must sign a M.A.P. contract stating their commitment to lowering student loan borrowing. The contract also encourages students to find alternative sources of financial aid such as scholarships. M.A.P. will support students until graduation, provided they continue to fulfill the financial literacy requirement and register for 12 credit hours each semester.

Contact Information:

USA Funds Life Skills

You have 24/7 access to Life Skills*an online, self-directed financial literacy program that provides you with financial information, tips, and skills necessary to be financially successful. The interactive format helps you connect with content that relates to your everyday experiences and helps you understand and take control of your finances.

Mo' Money Mo' Otto

Student to Student

Need personal guidance on creating and sticking to a budget, or understanding how credit scores, credit card management, and identity theft affect you? The student educators in the Student to Student program can help increase your money management knowledge, including budgeting, credit card management, student loan management, identity theft, and overall financial planning. Make an appointment with a student educator using the link below.

Appointments:

Federal TEACH Grant

The Federal TEACH Grant provides grants to students who intend to teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families. For education majors, this is a great way to lower your student loan borrowing.

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Presentations

Do you have a group that would like to learn more about financial topics? Syracuse University’s financial literacy program, I Otto Know This! can provide presentations on financial topics including budgeting, saving, student loans, credit reports and scores, preventing identity theft and more. You tell us what you want to learn and we will design a presentation for your group.
Here are a few offices or groups that have previously benefited from this service:

A Penny Saved is a Penny Otto

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Budget Worksheet

Creating a budget is the first step leading to healthy money habits. Don't know how to start? Click on the Interactive Budget Worksheet link below. You can download and save it to your computer. Enter your resources and expenses, and the worksheet will do your budget calculations for you.

The Otto Identity

Financial Literacy Lingo

Whether in your news feed, on a billboard or in conversations with friends you will be exposed to terms that are money-related. The first step in becoming financially strong begins with understanding what your money means and lingo associated with it. It is never to late to capitalize on investing in your financial literacy knowledge. Click on link below for investment definitions.